DAVID Wheater is backing record signing Afonso Alves to fire Boro into the Premier League top 10.

The Brazilian hot-shot showed his undoubted ability towards the end of last season and rounded off the campaign by lashing home a hat-trick in the thrilling 8-1 win over Manchester City.

Over the past two years, Alves has scored 51 goals in just 45 starts in the Dutch and English top divisions, a record that has convinced Wheater he can make a massive impact for Boro next season.

“I have always said we should be in the top 10 or higher,” Wheater told the Gazette, “and if Afonso scores the number of goals I think he will, then we will be up there. When you think of all the chances we created last season, we really didn’t score as many goals as we could have - we often didn’t put the ball in the net when we were on top.”

And Wheater revealed that inside knowledge of having seen Alves at close quarters in training on a daily basis had left him in no doubt of the 27-year-old’s ability in front of goal.

“The fans obviously saw what Afonso could do in the games against Man City and Man United, but the players saw in training just how good he is,” he explained.

“He took a bit of time to settle in and get used to the speed and physical side of English games, but I think he is over that now. In training, if he gets a chance he will score, simple as that. He’s just brilliant in the box, a bit like Ruud van Nistelrooy.”

Responding to yet more reports linking the England winger with a move to Liverpool, the chief-executive said: “We were all delighted that Stewart signed a new contract last season. We believe he is happy and settled here.

"Having said that, we know that Stewart has to achieve all that his talent allows so the onus is on Middlesbrough to ensure his ambitions are fulfilled here.

“Stewart’s got everything as a player and is playing possibly the best football of his career, both for Middlesbrough and England, but I don’t feel he has fulfilled that potential yet.

"His best years are ahead of him. We believe he will become one of the best players in Europe.”

THE deadline for Boro season card renewals is 5pm tomorrow. It is also the deadline for under-18s to snap up season cards for £95 and for 18-21s to purchase them for just £195.

The Riverside ticket office is open from 9.30am to 7pm today and from 9.30am to 5pm on Saturday. Same seat renewals are available online at www.mfc.co.uk.